Padma Awards 2026: Shibu Soren, Alka Yagnik among 65 honoured on June 23
Synopsis
India's second Padma investiture of 2026 brings together 65 honourees — from the late JMM patriarch Shibu Soren to tennis icon Vijay Amritraj and singer Alka Yagnik. The list's international sweep, covering recipients from the US, Russia, and Georgia, underscores the awards' growing global reach.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu will present 65 Padma Awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan on 23 June 2026 at 5 pm .
The ceremony includes 2 Padma Vibhushan , 7 Padma Bhushan , and 56 Padma Shri awards.
Shibu Soren , JMM founder and former Union Minister, will receive a posthumous Padma Bhushan .
Other Padma Bhushan recipients include Vijay Amritraj , Mammootty , Alka Yagnik , and Dr.
Dattatreyudu Nori (USA).
Awardees include citizens from the US, Russia, and Georgia , with two posthumous honours in the list.
The first investiture ceremony was held on 25 May 2026 , also conferring 65 awards .
President Droupadi Murmu will confer 65 Padma Awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on 23 June 2026, honouring recipients including the late Shibu Soren, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty, and playback singer Alka Yagnik. The ceremony, set to begin at 5 pm, will be attended by Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah, among other dignitaries.
Awards Breakdown for Ceremony II
The second investiture ceremony will see the conferral of two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awards. This follows the First Civil Investiture Ceremony held on 25 May, at which President Murmu had presented 65 awards — comprising two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri.
Notable Recipients
The two Padma Vibhushan awardees are P. Narayanan, recognised for Literature and Education, and retired Justice K.T. Thomas, honoured for Public Affairs. Among the Padma Bhushan recipients, Shibu Soren — founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former Union Minister — will receive the honour posthumously. The remaining Padma Bhushan awardees are Vijay Amritraj, S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, Mammootty, Vellappally Natesan, Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, and Alka Yagnik.
International Awardees
The list notably includes citizens from four countries beyond India. Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori of the United States receives the Padma Bhushan for Medicine, while fellow American Professor Prateek Sharma is awarded Padma Shri in the same field. Liudmila Khokhlova of Russia has been selected for Padma Shri in Literature and Education. Vladimer Mestvirishvili of Georgia will be posthumously awarded Padma Shri for Sports.
About the Padma Awards
Padma Awards rank among India's highest civilian honours, announced annually on Republic Day and presented across disciplines including art, science and engineering, medicine, literature, sports, trade, and public affairs. Padma Vibhushan recognises exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan is for distinguished service of a high order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. West Bengal's Professor Mahendra Nath Roy is among the Padma Shri recipients, honoured for Science and Engineering.
What Comes Next
With two investiture ceremonies now scheduled — the first on 25 May and the second on 23 June — the 2026 cycle reflects the government's practice of staggering award presentations across multiple ceremonies. All 130 Padma Awards for 2026 are expected to be conferred across both events.
Point of View
After his death, sidesteps the controversy that would have accompanied a lifetime award. Meanwhile, the presence of American, Russian, and Georgian recipients signals that the Padma framework is being used with increasing deliberateness as a soft-power instrument — a trend worth tracking as India's foreign policy posture grows more assertive.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Padma Awards 2026 ceremony being held?
The Civil Investiture Ceremony-II will be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, on 23 June 2026, beginning at 5 pm. President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the event.
Who are the Padma Vibhushan awardees in the June 23 ceremony?
P. Narayanan (Literature and Education) and retired Justice K.T. Thomas (Public Affairs) will receive the Padma Vibhushan — India's second-highest civilian honour — at the ceremony.
Why is Shibu Soren receiving the Padma Bhushan posthumously?
Shibu Soren, founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and former Union Minister, passed away before the award could be conferred in person. The government has selected him for a posthumous Padma Bhushan in recognition of his public service.
Which international citizens are among the Padma awardees?
The 2026 list includes two Americans — Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori (Padma Bhushan, Medicine) and Professor Prateek Sharma (Padma Shri, Medicine) — along with Russia's Liudmila Khokhlova (Padma Shri, Literature and Education) and Georgia's Vladimer Mestvirishvili, who receives a posthumous Padma Shri for Sports.
How many Padma Awards have been given in 2026 across both ceremonies?
A total of 130 Padma Awards are being conferred in 2026 across two investiture ceremonies. The first, held on 25 May, covered 65 awards; the second, on 23 June, covers another 65.
